Suspension apparatus with lateral conductor movement for transmission line conductors



' Nov. 9, 1965 J. J. TAYLOR 3,217,086 SUSPENSION APPARATUS WITH LATERALCONDUCTOR MOVEMENT FOR TRANSMISSION LINE CONDUCTORS Filed Oct. 7, 1965 2Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. JOHN J. TAYLOR ATTORNEY Nov. 9, 1965 .1. J.TAYLOR 3,217,086-

ON APPARA SUSPENSI TUS LATERAL CONDUCTOR MOVEMENT FOR TRANSM LINECONDUCTORS Filed Oct. 7, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. JOHN J. TAYLORmum ATTORNEY United States Patent Jersey Filed Oct. 7, 1963, Ser. No.314,266 8 Claims. '(Cl. 174-40) This invention relates to high voltagetransmission lines and, more particularly, to holding means and clampsfor transmission line conductors.

In United States Patent 3,076,864, issued February 5, 1963, to R. W.Harmon and A. D. Lantz, there is shown and described a bundle conductorsystem for power transmission lines particularly useful for transmissionat Very high voltages. As set forth in that patent, a plurality ofconductor cables are carried from a string of suspension insulators bymeans of a suspension plate which holds the conductor cables intransversely spaced relation. Two of the conductor cables are carried atthe top lateral extremities of the suspension plate in a trunnionarrangement which provides a favorable positioning of the conductorcables adjacent the insulators so that line voltage is divided uniformlybetween the several insulators.

In apparatus such as that just referred to, and in trunnion supports forconductor cables generally, it is desirable to provide for a certaindegree of transverse movement of the clamp to accommodate violentlateral movements of the conductor cables. Such cable movements areknown to occur in connection with system short circuits, violentwindstorms, conditions of severe ice unloading, and the like, and thestresses at the juncture of the cable and the clamp may be sufiicient todamage the cable in a cable clamp which is too tightly constrained orlimited to movements in the vertical plane.

The cable support and holding means described herein comprises a new andimproved arrangement for supporting a conductor cable on a stanchion andtrunnion, such as that illustrated in US. Patent 3,076,864 idem.Particularly, the conductor clamp is supported by a carrier member whichis, in turn, carried on trunnion members supported by the stanchionmembers. The carrier member rotates upon the trunnions for pivotalmovement in the vertical plane and the conductor clamp rotates on thecarrier member for pivotal movement in the horizontal plane.

It is an important feature of the apparatus of the invetnion that twodegrees of freedom are provided as an inherent aspect of the structurerather than as a result of loose fits, large clearances, and the like.Accordingly, an

important cause of excessive wear in suspension apparatus is avoided.

It is an important feature of the apparatus of the invention that thecenter of pivotal movement in the vertical plane is closely adjacent thecenter of loading of the clamp in the vertical direction so thatmechanical coupling of vibratory forces between the cables of the systemis minimized.

The invention, together with further objects, features, and advantagesthereof, will be evident from the follow- 3,217,086 Patented Nov. 9,1965 ing detailed description and claims, taken in connection with theappended drawings in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates suspension apparatus embodying the invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged section view of one part of the apparatus of FIG.1, particularly illustrating the carrier apparatus for supporting theconductor clamp on the suspension plate;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged top view of the conductor clamp and supportapparatus therefor;

FIG. 4 is a side elevation view of the conductor clamp and a portion ofthe carrier, taken in the direction 4-4 in FIG. 3; and

FIG. 5 is a bottom view of the conductor clamp and carrier member, takenin the direction 55 in FIG. 4.

Referring now to FIG. 1, the suspension apparatus 10 comprises asuspension plate 11, a plurality of conductor clamps 12 and 13 carriedat the top lateral extremities of the suspension plate 11, a conductorclamp 14 carried at the lower extremity of the suspension plate 11, anda suspension insulator 15 connected to the suspension plate 11 centrallybetween the conductor clamps'12- and 13. The insulator 15 comprises thelowermost insulator of a string of insulators carrying the apparatusfrom a tower or other fixed structure and is connected to the suspensionplate 11 by means of a socket-clevis 16 and pin 17 for pivotalsuspension of the plate 11, clamps 12, 13, and 14, and the associatedconductor cables in stable laterally symmetric relation to the insulatorstring. The apparatus comprises a conductor suspension and supportsystem for a bundle conductor of a transmission line, as described inUnited States Patent 3,076,864, issued February 5, 1963, to R. W. Harmonand A. D. Lantz, and may utilize the teachings of US. Patent 3,076,866,issued therewith.

In accordance with the teachings of US. Patent 3,076,- 864, theconductor clamps 12 and 13 are supported upon spaced parallel parts orstanchions formed as an integral part of the suspension plate 11. Asillustrated, par:- ticularly in FIG. 2, the conductor clamp 12 issupported between the two stanchions 18 and 19 by means comprising acarrier member 20 and two trunnion studs 21 and 22. The studs 21 and 22are threaded into the stanchions 18 and 19 and extend through suitableconformed openings in the side parts of the carrier member 20. R0-tation of the carrier member 20 on the studs 21 and 22 provides pivotalmovement of the carrier member 20 and clamp 12 in the verticaldirection.

The carrier 20 supports the body of the conductor clamp 12, which isarranged to pivot on the lateral part of the carrier 20 for relativemovement of the conductor clamp in the horizontal direction.

As illustrated in FIGS. 3, 4, and 5, the clamp 12 comprises a unitaryclamp body 23 having two side walls 24 and 25 and a bottom wall 26. Theside walls 24 and 25 have spaced interior portions and the bottom wallhas an arcuate interior surface 27 to constitute a groove or seat for aconductor cable extending longitudinally through the clamp. The clampbody is formed with shield parts 28, 29, 30, and 31 which extendlaterally outward from the aligned parts of the side walls of the bodyand define recesses 32, 33, 34, and 35 for receiving the diagonalextremities of a keeper 36. The keeper is drawn toward laterallyextending side wall portions 37, 38, 39, and 40 along the interior ofthe side walls 24 and 25 by means of bolt fasteners 41, 42, 43, and 44which extend from the under side of the bottom wall 26 of the clamp bodythrough the keeper 36. The nuts 45, 46, 47, and 48 on the threaded endsof the fasteners 40 to 44 are received in recesses 49, 50, 51, and 52and are disposed substantially at the level of the exterior surface ofthe keeper 36 to prevent excessive stress concentration and minimizecorona formation. The conductor clamp just described is constructedsubstantially in accordance with the teachings of United States patentapplication Serial No. 269,- 656, filed April 1, 1963, by R. W. Harmon.

The arrangement of the clamp body 23 and the carrier 20, providingrelative rotational movement of the two parts, will be evident from FIG.4 and FIG. 5. The bottom wall 26 of the clamp body 23 is formed on theunder side with a circular recess 53 which has the bottom surfacethereof parallel with the seatof the clamp and paralid to thelongitudinal direction of the cable. The recess extends symmetricallyabout a circular projection or boss 54 centrally of the clamp body inthe longitudinal and transverse directions thereof and extendingsomewhat beyond the level of the outer surface of the bottom wall of thebody. The carrier 20 has a circular central part 55 "with a centralopening 56 received in the recess 53 and over the boss 54 respectively.

The central part 55 of the carrier member 20 is held in the recess 53 bythe heads of the fastener bolts 41 to 44 which extend over the recess 53and the outer surface of the central part 55 of the carrier. Thearrangement permits relative turning movement of the clamp and carrierwhile holding the parts in vertically constrained relation.

The carrier 20 has side parts 57 and 58 which extend laterally outwardfrom and at right angles to the central part 55, exteriorly of andvertically along and between the side walls 24 and 25 of the clamp body23 and the stanchions 18 and 19. As will be evident from FIG. 3, the

side parts 57 and 58 of the carrier 20 are disposed generally betweenthe shield parts 28 and 29 and 30 and 31, respec- .tively, of the clampbody and have a longitudinal extent and lateral spacing from the bodyand extent in the longitudinal direction of the clamp to permit alimited degree of movement inthe horizontal direction. As an example ofthe practice of the invention, degrees of rotational freedom, or 7 /2degrees in each direction from the neutral, may be achieved in practicalstructures.

The trunnion bolts 21 and 22 extend through openings 59 and 60 in theside parts 57 and 58 of the carrier 20, and have the extremities thereofreceived in recesses 61 and 62 in the side Walls 24 and 25 of the clampbody 23. The recesses 61 and 62 are of sufficient depth to accommodaterotational movement of the clamp in the horizontal plane and may bespaced from the interior extremity of the bolts 21 and 22 or have thebottom surface of the recess formed as an arc of a cylinder centered onthe vertical axis through the boss 54 to provide limiting engagementbetween the body of the clamp and the extremities of the studs.Alternately, the exterior of the clamp body may be formed withcylindrical faces to cooperate with the end faces of the studs.

In the arrangement of the clamp 12, stanchions 18 and 19, and carrier20, shown herein, forces and movements of the combined cables andassembly are accommodated by relative turning movement of the clamp 12in the carrier and/or by turning movements of the carrier 20 on thestanchion studs 21 and 22 relative to the stanchions 18 and 19 and thesuspension plate 11. Because of the freedom of relative movement in twodirections thus provided, and because of the disposition of the trunnionsupport with the center of pivotal movement of the conductor cable andclamp body in the vertical direction centrally through the cable in thevertical direction thereof, excitations of the assembly by movements ofthe individual cables and excitation of the individual conductor cablesby movements of the assembly are minimized.

Arrangements utilizing integral trunnion studs and/or separatestanchions may be used for the purposes described herein.

It is to be understood that the foregoing description is not intended torestrict the scope of the invention and that various rearrangements ofthe parts and modifications of the design may be resorted to. Thefollowing claims are directed to combinations of elements which embodythe invention or inventions of this application.

I claim:

1. In conductor apparatus, in combination a conductor clamp comprisingan elongate clamp body having a longitudinal cable-receiving groovedefined by a bottom wall and spaced side walls, a carrier for theconductor clamp comprising a U-shaped carrier member having a centralpart thereof extending under the clamp body with the clamp body pivotedthereon and the side parts of the carrier member extending along theside walls of the clamp body in spaced relation thereto, interengagingboss and recess means on the bottom wall of the clamp body and thecentral part of the carrier member for relative rotational movementthereof, and support means comprising two stanchions located outwardlyfrom the carrier member on the two sides thereof and trunnion means onthe stanchions received in aligned openings in the side parts of thecarrier member for rotational movement thereof relative to thestanchions.

2. Apparatus in accordance with claim 1, in which the trunnion means arestuds threaded into the stanchions and having bearing surfaces thereofreceived in complementary openings in the end parts of the carriermember, the studs extending through the carrier member, and the clampbody having cylindrical exterior surfaces thereof centered on an axisvertically through the clamp and opposed to the extremities of thetrunnion studs for mutually positioning the cable clamp and the carriermember, whatever the angular position of the cable clamp relative to thecarrier member.

3. Apparatus in accordance with claim 2 with longitudinal recesses inthe side walls of the clamp body and the extremities of the trunnionstuds received therein, the said cylindrical exterior surfaces beingformed at the bottom of the recesses.

4. Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 in which the stanchions extendin the vertical direction from a suspension plate and in which thecarrier pivots on a horizontal axis through the trunnion means in theplane of the said suspension plate and the conductor clamp pivots aboutan axis vertically through the carrier member, which vertical axis isdetermined by the rotational position of the carrier member on thetrunnion means.

5. In conductor apparatus, a conductor clamp comprising an elongateclamp body having a longitudinal cable-receiving groove defined by abottom wall and spaced side walls, a carrier for the conductor clampcomprising a generally U-shaped carrier member having a central partthereof extending transversely under the clamp body and side partsextending perpendicularly from the central part in spaced relation tothe side walls of the clamp body, means on the ends of the side parts ofthe carrier member adapted for pivotal support of the carrier member ontransversely directed trunnion means. for rotational movement of thecarrier and clamp in a plane perpendicular to the line of a tranverseaxis defined by the said trunnion means, and means pivota-lly supportingthe clamp body on the central part of the carrier member for swingingmovement generally in the transverse direction of the said carrier andsaid plane of rotation thereof.

6. Apparatus in accordance with claim 5, in which the side parts of thecarrier member extend along the side walls of the clamp body and themeans on the ends of the side parts of the carrier member aresubstantially aligned with the central part of the conductor groove inthe vertical direction thereof in the conductor clamp.

7. Apparatus in accordance with claim 5, in which the References Citedby the Examiner last-named means comprises an exteriorly circular cen-UNITED STATES PATENTS tral part of the carrier member received in acircular recess in the bottom wall of the clamp body, and a 3076864 2/63Lantz et X circular stud on the clamp body received in an opening 5FOREIGN PATENTS centrally of the carrier member, the clamp body andcarrier rotating on adjoining surfaces for relative pivotal 206474 2/57Austrahamovement thereoi 855,597 11/52 Germany.

8. Apparatus in accordance With claim 7 in which 900,365 12/53Germanythere are fastener bolts extending from the under side 0 of theclamp body into the walls thereof, and the fastener JOHN BURNS PrlmaryExaminer T bolts have means extending over the recess in the clamp JOHNP. WILDMAN, LARAMIE A. ASKIN,

body and over the central part of the carrier member Examiners. forrelative vertical constraint of the clamp and carrier.

5. IN CONDUCTOR APPARATUS, A CONDUCTOR CLAMP COMPRISING AN ELONGATECLAMP BODY HAVING A LONGITUDINAL CABLE-RECEIVING GROOVE DEFINED BY ABOTTOM WALL AND SPACED SIDE WALLS, A CARRIER FOR THE CONDUCTOR CLAMPCOMPRISING A GENERALLY U-SHAPED CARRIER MEMBER HAVING A CENTRAL PARTTHEREOF EXTENDING TRANSVERSELY UNDER THE CLAMP BODY AND SIDE PARTSEXTENDING PERPENDICULARLY FROM THE CENTRAL PART IN SPACED RELATION TOTHE SIDE WALLS OF THE CLAMP BODY, MEANS ON THE ENDS OF THE SIDE PARTS OFTHE CARRIER MEMBER ADAPTED FOR PIVOTAL SUPPORT OF THE CARRIER MEMBER ONTRANSVERSELY DIRECTED TRUNNION MEANS FOR ROTATIONAL MOVEMENT OF THECARRIER AND CLAMP IN A PLANE PERPENDICULAR TO THE LINE OF A TRANSVERSEAXIS DEFINED BY THE SAID TRUNNION MEANS, AND MEANS PIVOTALLY SUPPORTINGTHE CLAMP BODY ON THE CENTRAL PART OF THE CARRIER MEMBER FOR SWINGINGMOVEMENT GENERALLY IN THE TRANSVERSE DIRECTION OF THE SAID CARRIER ANDSAID PLANE OF ROTATION THEREOF.